​Crimean air base pledges allegiance to local authorities

The Ukrainian Air Force 240th tactical aviation brigade based near Sevastopol has pledged allegiance to the authorities of Crimea. It is manned by more than 800 troops and has almost 50 planes, although most of them are not operational.

“Today the command of the 204th base in Belbek has declared
that it stands with the people or Crimea,” a spokesman for
the local authorities told Interfax.

With the addition of the personnel of the base, the total
strength of Crimean military has almost reached 6,000 people, he
said.

Belbek Airport hosts 45 MiG-29 fighter jets and 4 L-39 training
jets. However only four fighters and one training aircraft are
currently operational, the report said.

Crimean authorities earlier denounced the self-proclaimed
government in Kiev and declared that all Ukrainian law
enforcement and military deployed in the peninsula must take
orders from them. The majority of troops in Crimea switched sides
in favor of the local authorities.

Among those pledging allegiance to Crimea is Rear admiral Denis
Berezovsky, who was appointed by Kiev last week as chief of the
Ukrainian Navy, but swore to serve the people of Crimea on
Monday.